Officer Recovering After Hit and Run Accident

Fairfax County police officer struck by drunk driver.

The officer who was struck by a drunk driver last month is still in the hospital but is in good condition and the prognosis for his full recovery is good.

“They are waiting for the swelling to go down so they can operate on his leg for the second time,” said MPO Greg Kottemann, crime prevention officer. “The suspect in this case has been charged with DWI, felony hit and run and malicious wounding of a police officer. The suspect was originally held without bond, but has now been released on a $30,000 secured bond.”

The Fairfax County police officer, who has asked not to be identified, was struck and seriously injured by a drunk driver in the Groveton area on Thursday, Feb. 24, around 10:30 p.m. He had been helping a disabled motorist in the southbound lanes of Richmond Highway at Memorial Street. A 1996 Toyota pickup truck was traveling south on Richmond Highway when it struck the officer and fled the scene. A 25-year-old Alexandria area woman saw the crash and gave officers a description of the truck. A lookout was broadcast and an officer located the truck and driver in the 6500 block of Dorset Drive.

The driver was identified as Guillermo Escobar, 41, of Audubon Avenue in the Hybla Valley area. He was arrested and transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center where he was charged with felony hit-and-run and driving while intoxicated and held on no bond. The officer sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries to the left lower leg and was transported to Fairfax INOVA hospital.

Last year there were 2,618 arrests in Fairfax County for driving while intoxicated, and there were 855 alcohol-related crashes in Fairfax County.

Kottemann said that if anyone wants to send a note or card to the officer, they can be sent to the Mount Vernon District Station, in care of Captain Kline, 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria, VA 22306.